Time for Part 2 of Training!

Hola! Today is our last day of the first part of training. We move tomorrow, to a new town, a couple hours away, for field based training. Youth Development (me!) goes to one town, Municipal Development to another, and Protected Areas Management to another. We will be split up in our groups for 7 weeks, doing more hands on training, then we come back here, and hopefully, if we've met all the qualifications, we get sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers.

We got a sheet of paper with information about our new host families. My host mom supposedly is a teacher, i finally will have my first host dad (time to see what the machismo is all about), i have a 13 year old host sister, an 11 year old host brother, and a 2 year old host sister. We supposedly also have to dogs, Capitan and Preciosa. Wish me luck! My family here has been so wonderful... so i am hoping the next one is just as welcoming. (according to the sheet, i will have a real SHOWER!!)

Last week we went on volunteer visits. I went down south to a city called Choluteca, its the biggest site that YD volunteers get sent to, and the girl i visited is leaving in september and will be replaced. I wasnt crazy about how big her site was, but her counterparts were wonderful, and she does some pretty cool stuff. I sat in on her sex ed class with a group of 6th grade girls (i cant wait to do that!), and we did some dental health stuff with preschools. She also teaches teachers how to teach english to their classes. We met other volunteers who live outside of Choluteca for lunch (they were also hosting trainees).... guess where we went.... PIZZA HUT. but no. it was like a 5 star restaurant. there was a host who greeted us at the door, they sold alcohol, served you at your table, and it was the kind of place you dress up to go to! it was bizarre. i didnt tell the Hondurans that Pizza Hut in the states isn't so fancy...

Overall, it was a really good opportunity to get to see what life as a volunteer is like.. of course, everyone has a different experience... you can't really compare...but it answered a lot of my questions.
We have our next interviews with out project managers in a few weeks... they MIGHT ask us if we have a preference for site size or location, but the reality is we will be placed where our skills best fit the community's needs... although at this point, i think i would rather give up some amenities for a smaller site, where everyone will get to know me and help me shoo away any creepers or bolos (drunks).

Last weekend i went to Santa Lucia, a cute little town, with my host cousins. They were excellent tour guides... it was so cute, it reminded me of spain. There was a little library there, and my cousins told me it was the closet one to them ( they said there arent many libraries here), and you cant take out books (as they dont have a lot of them). So you have to go there and stay to read.


Here is one of my roomates, my little Gecko friend.
The first time we met, i freaked out and got my host mom. She laughed at me. I guess he eats the mosquitoes, so i let him stay.

I miss and love you all, thanks for following! I will let you know how the new family is, wish me luck :)
love, lisa

My tummy has realized where i am

4 de julio 2010

To celebrate the 4th of July in Honduras, I washed my clothes in the pila for the first time! It was quite a process, but I think I was successful… we will see how much soap residue is left on my polo shirts once they are all dry…. (UPDATE: FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS A SUCCESS! but please, when you are using your washing machines, think of my tired arms that spent an hour scrubbing my shirts on a pila).I also took a fun paseo with some of my host aunts and their sister in laws and nieces and nephews… its hard to keep track of who everyone is, and how they are part of the family, but the bottom line is that they are all family. I am beginning to feel like I am as well… I can’t believe I will have to leave them in just 2 weeks! We played an intense game of soccer (with a small, plastic ball, like a wiffle ball but bigger- you use whatever you have here) last night, mujeres verses hombres, of course the women won! Not much thanks to me hahaha but my little chicas here are pretty good!

I am also beginning to understand the lapse in the education system here. As I mentioned before, part of the Youth Development work will be collaborating with host teachers to help find a way to better teach math… I have been helping one of my host cousins with her division homework almost every night… we will make some progress, but then she will go to school, come home, sit down to do her math homework, and be more confused than ever.

My new favorite desert, the chocobanano. Its exactly what it sounds like, a banana dipped in chocolate, frozen and on a stick! Its amazing, absolutely amazing. I am going to start that trend in the States when I come back!

Also, in this picture here is a pair of flower hair clips! One of my trainee, Margaret, has a crafty little host sister, and she makes and sells hair clips! She’s only 12 and has a business, so I bought a pair of pink flowers for 15 lempira!
Its quite common for people to sell things from their house as well… we have neighbors that sell little ice creams, others who sell tortillas, and others who sell distinctly-cooked corn on the cobs! They make a simple sign on paper, saying what they sell and for how much, and you just knock on their door!

Oh, some sad news, Rosita the parrot passed away a few days ago, may she rest in peace.

8 de julio 2010
so my stomach is starting to wonder where i am, finally. it took about 3 weeeks. everythings fine, i talked to the medical officers and everything. not a parasite. hopefully it will pass.

on sunday we leave for our ´volunteer visits´ where we go spend 3 days visiting another volunteer! im slightly skeptical about traveling (we have been getting some intense safety and security sessions), butttt im super excited to shadow a youth development volunteer. stay tuned for an update on that!
we are suppose to come back wendesday, and then wrap up the last week here in Zarabanda before we leave on sunday for Field Based Training for the next 7 weeks.

some project ideas we´ve been talking about for youth development are:

-Yo Merezco, a sex ed program (most host country teachers know it has to be taught but dont want to do it, hence why many volunteers end up implementing this program.. the PC has a manual and everything)
-A colgate dental hygene program
-story hour
-tutoring
-a world map mural project
There is a lot of flexibility within this sector. and we will be getting to site right as the school year is ending, so instead of teacher trainings, we will probably be starting off trying to launch our own projects within the community.

oh, if you think of any light weight, easy and not too expensive to send craft materials... that be awesome! not just yet though! i wont get to my site until september. and a few other things i may add to that wishlist... febreaze, and old navy flip flops for the bucket shower. i may be able to find suitable alternatives so dont buy anything just yet (this last paragraph is mostly for you mom! ;) ...)

Week Two: Not Sick Yet!

Saludos mis amores- todo esta bien en Honduras!

I’ve been spending my days at training, which consists of about 4 hours of Spanish, cultural and peace corps related topics (safety and security, health, regulations and policies…), and the technical component (for me, is Youth Development, but also within our training class we have Municipal Development and Protected Areas Management). We had language interviews last week, and based on that we were placed in small classes; I am “advanced-medium” (in the highest class) which shocked me, and is a bit intimidating but it will actually work out to my advantage because our class, instead of spending the time like a normal class, is going to do “mini projects” during Field Based Training. That means, basically, that we do a community project (like we will be doing as volunteers) which will be such good practice. Also. i have quite a bit of outside homework for right now (current event stuff, investigations, etc).

What is “field based training”? Well, after our three weeks in Zarabanda are over, we move to a different community, with a different host family, for 7 weeks. All the Youth Development Volunteers will be in one places, while MD in another, and PAM in another. We will be spending part of that time having language classes (preparing our projects), and the other part doing hands on work in the community related to our field. I am psyched! As I get more details about different areas of YD I will let you know… all I know right now is that there is a high need for volunteers in the education system- about 2 years ago Honduras changed its curriculum, and teachers have had a hard time adapting.

I have become a celebrity amongst the kids in my family here… They love to follow me, play games with me, and basically watch my every move. It’s a lot. But I feel important! Hahaha. Its amazing to me how creative these kids are. They have next to nothing, in regards to material possessions, but they find things to do all day long. We spent HOURS one night playing silly little games like Simon Dice (simon says) and guessing words (one would think of a word, tell everyone except one person, and we all try to describe the word to the person who does know so he/she can guess… perfect for me to practice Spanish!).

This weekend I painted various toe nails (not just the kids, a few of the women wanted it too!!), learned how to make tortillas, discovered that we not only have roosters and chickens and dogs here, but pigs and a PARROT! Sadly, Rosita the parrot is very old and no longer talks. In fact she hardly moves. My host mom is into herbal medicine, so one of the little girls and I helped her bag up some herbs (tea?) that she sells (its suppose to alleviate gas).

Fact for today: only 21% of the honduran population completes 12th grade.

I went to church tonight with my host grandma and one of the little girls, and i got a shout out from the pastor! ¨ah! tenemos una cara nueva! como se llama! bienvenida! que dios te bendiga para siempre!¨" hahaha it was fun!

we havent had running water for 2 days.

oh and about the pictures, i dont really know how to give them individul lables... but if you have questions, ask! if you click on them they get bigger i think.

I love and miss you all, hope all is well!

primeros dias en zarabanda

Hello All! Here is a brief recap of whats happening:

23 de Junio 2010

Saludos de mi primer casa en Honduras!

After we landed, our group was brought to the training center in Zarabanda (40 minutes outside the capital) in a yellow school bus that someone in the US must have given up on. We went over some basics, and were greeted by our first host families. At first I thought, based on the sheet I was given with information about my first family, that I would be living with a woman, and her sister in law, with a little bird, and electricity. I was pleasantly surprised about seeing electricity, so I looked past the part about no kids/no dogs. But as soon as I met my host sister-in-law and saw that she had a 5 year old daughter with her, I was at ease. As we began our journey walking to their home, we were picked up in a truck by another family heading the same way. Free ride in the back of a pick up truck… there must have been about 10 Hondurans piled in with us! We were let off the truck at this little cluster of about 4 homes, with a little store in part of one of them, dogs running everywhere, chickens in the back, and SO MANY LITTLE KIDS! I was exhausted, but made an effort to be social. In fact, the little girl that was there to get me from the training center hardly left my side until I went to bed! They are so excited to help me with my Spanish and teach my about their lives! My host sister in law will be cooking my dinner for part of the week while my host mom is at work (at a clinic in the capital that does cleans colons/intestines , if I understood that right). She, Lordes, is also taking classes to become a nurse. She was friendly and animated, and I loved her from the minute I met her. She is so easy to understand, and made me feel good about my Spanish haha. I already feel like its improved since talking to PC staff at the airport to now, and that’s just one day. Give it two years…!

First meal: fried bananas, an egg, interesting cheese, beans, and tortillas.

There is a real toilet.

And electricity.

I know I am spoiled in that respect, but tomorrow will be my first shower experience: either the water will be running and I can take a cold short semi-normal shower, or I will head out to the pila, get a bucket, heat it up, and clean myself somehow. I am meeting my host mom in the bathroom at 6am to learn how to do it!

I am exhausted. And I feel like I wont have as many amenities with my next host family so I am going to enjoy my bed.

24 de Junio 2010

The shower was, in fact, a bucket shower. It was fairly well. My first big success! Not sure how CLEAN I feel, but I’ll get better at it. And I will have to figure out how to rinse shampoo out of my hair using a bucket. Greasy McGreaser right here.

I guess no one has cold milk here… they always heat it up… the pasteurizing system isn’t like ours, so you can only find cold milk that isn’t bacteria ridden in the bigger cities. I had cornflakes with hot milk for breakfast today (everyone seems to eat cornflakes!).

Training is going to be intense, but they have free coffee, and it is absolutely delicioso. Molnday-Friday 7:30-4:30, and half days on Saturday.

The entire Peace Corps Training Staff is wonderful.And the training is excellent. It will be an extremely long 3 months but we will be well prepared when we are off to our sites.

25 de Junio 2010

Poco a poco, I’m getting use to the bucket showers… though again, not sure if I am actually clean. But that’s neither here nor there.

I’ve figured out a few things about life here through talking with my family. I was helping Dariella, one of the little girls, with her division homework, so I was asking her about school. It’s over after 6^th grade (12-13 years old), and when I asked what happened after that, she kind of shrugged. “Puede ir a la universidad pero es duro” (You can go to college, but it’s hard). Also, my ‘cunada’, or host sister-in-law, the one who looks out for me while Lordes is at work, is 25. Coli, her daughter, is 5, and she has a son who is ten. Her husband seems much older, but I cant tell. He works, building houses. He actually came in to help us figure out how to put up my mosquito net! And it seems that Lordes is the most well-off, in that her home has more amenities… Coli brought me into her house yesterday and it was a few rooms with concrete walls, some parts had a ceiling, others didn’t. I imagine the other few houses in our ‘compound’ (for lack of a better word) are similar.

Training is going to be tough, but I’m glad I have a base in Spanish, as that seems to be the most stressful part for a lot of trainees. Although on a positive note, a lot of them who haven’t had a lot of prior Spanish say they already feel like they’ve improved and it has only been a few days. They went over a lot of stuff about malaria (took my first dose of pills for that today) and dengue (another mosquito-ridden illness that is running ramped lately). Mosquito net, check. Bug spray, check. Ay que dios me bendiga! We also talked about other not so pleasant stuff (crime, safety and such) that is necessary to discuss, but certainly not fun to hear.

Today, thoughts from the internet cafe en Valle de las Angeles:

My host mom and i had a very extensive conversation about immigration over breakfast today.

Annnnd a group of us (most of the training class) came to this pueblo after this mornings training session (yes, half days on saturdays).

Todo esta bien. I am still exhausted, but luckily havent gotten sick yet

HASTA LUEGO!

HOLA! I arrived in Houston this morning and had an exhausting fun filled day of orientation... I am officially registered as a Peace Corps Trainee!!! We (training group of 57) ship out of the hotel bright and early (3:30) to being our journey to Teguz.... one thing to mention though, is that we found out that the town, Zarabanda, where the training center is, does not have internet, so you may not hear from me for 3 months! I dont know when i will have access to email nor when i will get my cell phone.. so please hold tight, dont worry, no news is good news, and i will send an update as soon as i can!

I think this is going to be a pretty awesome experience. Probably the hardest thing i will ever do (besides give birth?) but regardless of the not-so-great parts, it will definitely help strengthen my character.

We will move in with our first (of 3) host families tomorrow night, and being training the next day. Wish me luck! It will be INTENSE.

Please write letters if you can :) They will make me smile.

Funny side note: the name of the airport i landed in is George Bush Airport. Go figure.

Besos!
Lisa

Anticipation, Excitement, and Mariposas in my tummy

"Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed—doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language.

But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps—who works in a foreign land—will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace." JFK

Salgo en DOS SEMANAS!!!

I spoke to two groups of 7th/8th graders at my old middle school today (hola! if any of you have stumbled across my blog!) about what the peace corps is... in their language classes, they're doing a unit on volunteerism, so even though i haven't gone yet, the idea of the peace corps ties in... and hopefully i'll go back after my service to share my own stories!

I thought i'd post a link to one of the videos I showed them... it's really good! Its 15 minutes... but gives a really good overview, and shows the contrast of different places and living situations....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi8ieCpahCw

Just weighed my suitcase... and after removing a few items... i got it to 50lbs! Now the next challenge is fitting all the excess in my carry-on (just a backpack).... whoooooo!!!!!!!